Leslie van Ruyskensvelde
A THIEF with a string of motoring offences has been given a suspended prison sentence and must pay thousands of pounds in compensation. Stanley West, 57, of Thornton Lane, Sandwich, appeared before Canterbury Magistrates yesterday (Friday) where he was convicted of stealing from a friend and driving under the influence of alcohol in.
West, unemployed at the time of the offence in June, tried to earn ‘honest’ money by helping a friend paving his driveway. Dave Williams, described as ‘old and vulnerable’, agreed on a quote of £2,500 for West to start the work and buy what was needed.
After realizing that the deposit made by Mr Williams would not be enough to cover the price of the construction, some £7,000, West panicked and fled to Portugal leaving the work undone. When he came back he handed himself in to the police.
Drink-driving
West was also arrested by the police while driving under the influence of alcohol in September. He has been convicted in the past and was banned from driving for five years. During that period, he got arrested five times for the same offence.
His lawyers used West’s social background to explain his drink problems explaining that “he is turning to the bottle to compensate for the lack of friends.”
Verdict
West was given a six-month sentence suspended for 12 months and six months alcohol treatment. He must also pay £3,500 back to Mr Williams in compensation and £85 court cost. He will also be under curfew to remain at home from 6pm to 6am Friday to Sunday.
West made full admission of theft and recognizes he has an alcohol problem.
The defence argued that West didn’t deliberately targeted an old person and that he is ‘not by nature a dishonest person.’
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